US speeding up anti-missile plans: Russia

Russia has accused the United States of accelerating attempts to deploy anti-missile defences in central Europe, despite Russia's request for a freeze on the project.

The United States' negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic over installing the defences "have not only not been suspended, but additional measures are being taken to speed them up," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.

"There is the impression that the United States is trying to make the realisation of its plans irreversible," he said in a statement.

Mr Kamynin also reiterated Russia's dismissal of US accusations that Iran presents a military threat. Russia does not support "a holy alliance against this country," he said.

The ministry spokesman accused the US of failing to make good on a promise to put US proposals for resolving the dispute into concrete terms, while also failing to take seriously Russia's own proposals.

"Unfortunately the American side prefers not to pay attention that Russia's offer is an alternative - not a support" for US plans, he said.

The US and Russia are at loggerheads over US plans for deploying 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.

The United States says the shield would guard against potential threats from Iran.

Russia sees the US missile defence plans as a military encroachment in its former sphere of influence that could be turned against Russia's own nuclear deterrence.

The United States, which is still negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic for access to their territory, insists that the planned missile defences are no match for Russia's nuclear arsenal.

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